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New European champion Hope ready for step up into elite company

Kerry was given no hope (pardon the pun) when he challenged world-ranked Surrey-based Pole Grzegorz Proksa for the European middleweight title in Sheffield.

Only a few weeks before the Merthyr man had been due to fight on my Cardiff show for the Welsh middleweight title against Gary Cooper.

But I couldn’t stand in his way when the Proksa opportunity came along and, boy, didn’t Kerry – who had missed the birth of his daughter the previous week to focus on the fight – make the most of his opportunity.

I had him down as a clear winner, even though he had a point deducted at the end of the eighth for putting his head into Proksa.

Luckily, two judges agreed with the me while the third scored it a draw.

No wonder former European middleweight king Darren Barker described Kerry’s win as “like Rocky” after the fight.

Now Kerry hopes to keep world-class company like Barker, Martin Murray and Matthew Macklin, who was a brave loser to middleweight king Sergio Martinez in New York last weekend.

“There’s no reason why I can’t be fighting these lads now,” said Kerry, who had considered quitting the sport in the wake of a few setbacks in recent times.

“I believe Proksa was that class anyway. Maybe even a step above.

“I spent a number of years with the likes of Calzaghe, Maccarinelli and Cleverly and mixed it with them.

“So why can’t I mix it with world class? I’ll let my team decide my next move, but I’m looking forward to the next fight.

“I’ve got the title now and it’s nice to sit back and be European champion.”